ICMR Director Recruitment 2026 – 5 Posts, Eligibility & Salary | Government Vacancy Portal ICMR Director Recruitment 2026 – 5 Posts, Eligibility & Salary | Government Vacancy Portal ICMR Director Recruitment 2026 – 5 Posts, Eligibility & Salary | Government Vacancy Portal

ICMR Director Recruitment 2026 – Overview

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released a vacancy circular under Advertisement No. ICMR/DIR/02/2026-R&PCell for the recruitment of five Directors in its research institutes. These are senior Group A Scientific leadership positions responsible for managing biomedical and health research activities.

The recruitment covers five Director positions at the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), National Institute of Traditional Medicine (NITM), Rajendra Memorial National Institute of Health Research (RM NIHR), NIHR North and NIHR South. Appointments will be made through Direct Recruitment, Deputation (including Short Term Contract) or Absorption, as applicable.

Eligible Indian citizens with prescribed medical, biomedical science or health research qualifications and substantial professional experience can apply. The last date for submitting the online application is 30 November 2026 up to 5:30 PM.

Important Recruitment Details

ICMR Director Vacancy Details 2026

ICMR has announced five Director vacancies across different research institutes. The positions are associated with specialized areas of biomedical and health research.

Important: The positions of Director at ICMR-NIMR, Dwarka and ICMR-NITM, Belagavi are against lien vacancies and are subject to reversion of the lien holders.

Educational Qualification

Candidates applying through Direct Recruitment must possess one of the prescribed educational qualification combinations recognized by the concerned authorities.

• MD/MS or an equivalent degree recognized by MCI/NMC.
• MBBS or equivalent degree recognized by MCI/NMC along with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from a recognized university.
• Master degree in a subject related to Biomedical Sciences or MBBS/equivalent medical degree along with a Ph.D. in a Biomedical Sciences related subject from a recognized university.

Meeting the educational qualification alone is not sufficient. Candidates must also fulfil the essential experience and service requirements prescribed in the vacancy circular.

Experience Requirements

The prescribed essential experience for Direct Recruitment is 15 years. Candidates must also fulfil the following conditions:

• At least 5 years in a managerial position.
• Independent handling of Research and Development projects.
• Experience as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) of scientific studies, or as Head of Research Groups, Centres, Institutes or Laboratories.
• 2 years of regular service in Pay Matrix Level 13A or 7 years of regular service in Pay Matrix Level 13, or equivalent, as prescribed in the notification.

The notification also specifies how certain qualifications are considered for experience calculation. Ph.D. is considered equivalent to 4 years of experience, MD/MS to 3 years and MVSc to 2 years. MPH, M.Tech and ME are not counted as experience. The period spent obtaining the minimum essential educational qualification is not counted towards experience.

Research Experience Required for Different Institutes

Relevant Research and Development experience in Biomedical Sciences is required. The research specialization differs according to the institute.

Age Limit

The maximum prescribed age limit for the Director positions is 58 years.

• Maximum age for Direct Recruitment: 58 years.
• Maximum age for Deputation: 58 years as on the last date of application.
• Age relaxation may be considered for exceptionally meritorious candidates with the approval of the President, Governing Council, ICMR, subject to applicable rules.

Salary and Pay Scale

Selected candidates will be appointed at Level 14 of the 7th Central Pay Commission Pay Matrix, along with applicable allowances as admissible under ICMR rules.

Recruitment Through Deputation and Absorption

Eligible scientists and professionals from Central Government, State Government, recognized autonomous organizations, research institutes and universities may apply through Deputation (including Short Term Contract) or Absorption, subject to the prescribed conditions.

• The candidate should hold an analogous post on a regular basis, or possess the same essential qualifications and experience prescribed for Direct Recruitment.
• The maximum age for Deputation is 58 years on the closing date.
• ICMR Scientists are not eligible to apply through Deputation and must apply under Direct Recruitment.
• The deputation period is ordinarily 5 years and may be extended by a maximum of 5 years only if the incumbent is absorbed in ICMR.
• Absorption is subject to the availability of a vacancy in the scientific cadre and other applicable conditions.

Tenure of Appointment

For Direct Recruitment, the appointment tenure will be 5 years, extendable by a maximum of another 5 years, or until superannuation, whichever is earlier.

For Deputation or Absorption, the deputation tenure will be 5 years. Extension up to a maximum of another 5 years is permitted only when the incumbent is absorbed in ICMR, subject to applicable rules.

Application Fee

The application fee is non-refundable and must be paid through the online payment facility provided in the application form, wherever applicable.

Important Dates

The ICMR employment listing states that the online application link at the recruitment portal will be made live shortly. Candidates should check the official portal for application availability and further announcements.

Selection Process

The selection process will follow the conditions mentioned in the official vacancy circular.

1. Submission of the online application.
2. Verification of age, educational qualifications and professional experience.
3. Shortlisting of candidates fulfilling the minimum eligibility requirements.
4. Further shortlisting, if required, based on relevant experience, qualifications and criteria determined by the competent authority.
5. Personal Interview / Personal Discussion as applicable.
6. Final selection and appointment according to ICMR rules.

ICMR may apply additional shortlisting criteria if the number of eligible applicants is high. Higher experience in relevant research fields or higher educational qualifications may be considered according to the decision of the appointing authority.

Documents Required

Candidates should keep the following self-attested documents ready for online submission:

• Proof of Date of Birth.
• Educational qualification certificates and degree documents.
• Ph.D., MD/MS, MBBS, MPH or other applicable qualification certificates.
• Experience certificates issued by the Head of Office, Head of Organization or Head of HR.
• Documents clearly mentioning the period and dates of service.
• Research and professional experience supporting documents.
• Other documents required by the official application portal.

Applicants working in Central Government, State Government, Public Sector Undertakings or Government-funded research agencies must submit a No Objection Certificate with the prescribed undertaking at the time of personal discussion.

How to Apply Online for ICMR Director Recruitment 2026

1. Visit the official ICMR website at icmr.gov.in/employment-opportunities.
2. Find the notification for Director posts under Advertisement No. ICMR/DIR/02/2026-R&PCell.
3. Download and read the English or Hindi vacancy circular carefully.
4. Visit the official recruitment portal at recruitment.icmr.org.in.
5. Check whether the online application link has been activated.
6. Complete registration and enter the required personal, educational and professional information.
7. Upload self-attested qualification, date of birth and experience documents.
8. Pay the prescribed application fee if applicable.
9. Review the application and submit it before the closing deadline.
10. Save the submitted application and payment receipt for future reference.

Candidates applying for more than one Director position must submit separate online applications for each post and pay the prescribed fee separately wherever applicable.

Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

ICMR Director Recruitment 2026 is an important opportunity for experienced medical professionals, biomedical researchers and senior scientific administrators seeking leadership positions in Government health research institutions. The recruitment offers five Director positions with Pay Level 14 and appointments through Direct Recruitment, Deputation or Absorption.

Interested candidates should carefully examine the institute-specific research experience, essential qualifications, age limit and service conditions before applying. Complete the online application through the official ICMR recruitment portal by 30 November 2026 at 5:30 PM.